After 5 months of intense negotiations, Austria had a fresh government coalition. Chadec or Austrian People's organization (ÖVP), Austrian Social Democratic organization (SPÖ) and Liberal organization Neos reached an agreement on the creation of a government, leaving the nationalist Freedom organization of Austria (FPÖ) outside the structures of power, despite having won the highest number of votes in the fresh parliamentary elections.
The September 2024 parliamentary elections brought the FPÖ triumph with a consequence of 28% of the vote, which could theoretically give the organization a chance to take power. However, despite intense coalition talks, Herbert Kickl's organization was incapable to communicate with another groups, resulting in a political stalemate lasting record-breaking 5 months.
Eventually, the government coalition formed ÖVP, SPÖ and Neos, gaining a full of 110 seats in the 183-member parliament. The fresh Chancellor will be the leader of ÖVP Christian Stocker, and the Vice Chancellor of Andreas Babler of SPÖ. This is the first government coalition in Austria past involving Neos, which has 18 seats.
According to the local media, the fresh government's agenda is based on "consensus and pragmatism" to guarantee political stableness after months of uncertainty. The most crucial assumptions are:
- Strengthening migration policy, including temporary simplification of exile household reunification,
- Changes in rental law to facilitate access to housing,
- cuts in the social safety scheme, which is part of the budget savings policy,
- Adapting the state budget to the fiscal rules of the European Union, which means, among another things, reducing the public deficit.
The fresh coalition besides announces maintaining Austria's pro-European course, contrasting with the FPÖ policy, known for its Euroscepticism and pro-Russian sympathy.
Why was FPÖ omitted from negotiations?
Despite the best consequence in the election, FPÖ was not in government, mainly due to controversy surrounding its leader, Herbert Kickl. Representatives of ÖVP and Neos openly criticized his policies, accusing him of populism, Euroscepticism and besides close relations with Russia.
During the negotiations, Kickl attempted to scope an agreement with ÖVP, but the talks failed due to divergent visions on economical policy and the division of ministries. ÖVP openly blamed FPÖ leader for the failure of talks. Karl Mahrer, president of the ÖVP structures in Vienna, stated:
“I thought Herbert Kickl had changed. However, fresh weeks, days and hours have shown that it is inactive a safety hazard."
Kickl himself called the fresh government "a coalition of losers" and demanded early elections, claiming that the current power arrangement does not reflect the will of voters.
Despite political isolation, the FPÖ consistently strengthens its position among voters, peculiarly through its catchy slogan against migration and EU bureaucracy. The organization besides gained from the criticism of sanitary policy during the COVID-19 pandemic, which helped her gain fresh supporters. However, election success did not translate into real power. erstwhile again, the Austrian centre parties decided to block FPÖ, fearing that their presence in the government could lead to conflicts both nationally and internationally.
The fresh coalition will face many challenges, including expanding inflation, housing crisis and social divisions resulting from increasing popularity. The success of the government will depend on the ability to compromise between 3 very different parties who have not previously cooperated in this arrangement.
For FPÖ the next fewer years will be a test of the political strategy of the Liberals. If the organization maintains its support at close 30% level, it can again become a key player on the political phase – provided it finds partners to cooperate. At the moment, however, Austria remains under a central coalition that promises stableness and a pragmatic approach to governance.
